FNA: Oxytropis campestris var. varians vs. Oxytropis campestris

Phenology

Flowering spring–summer.

Habitat

Gravel bars, terraces, rock outcrops, roadsides, woods, heathlands, alpine meadows.

Elevation

10–2000 m. (0–6600 ft.)

Distribution

AK; BC; MB; NT; YT

[BONAP county map]

North America; Eurasia

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

Discussion

Variety varians is a highly variable entity, with numerous plants with differing morphological phases often growing together on the same gravel bar or hillside in portions of Alaska and Yukon. Alpine phases of the variety, especially in southeastern Alaska, northern British Columbia, and southwestern Yukon, closely simulate high altitude materials of var. cusickii at its northern limits in Alberta and southern British Columbia. Specimens of var. varians appear to intergrade with materials of var. jordalii in montane sites near Juneau. Certainly, this is the northern counterpart of var. spicata, from which it differs in characters that are altogether tenuous. Some specimens from eastern Alaska show evidence of intermediacy between var. varians and Oxytropis splendens. These form the basis of Oxytropis tananensis Jurtzev (B. A. Jurtzev 1993b), which the Pan-Arctic Flora (http://panarcticflora.org/) recognizes as a distinct species.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Varieties ca. 15 (12 in the flora).

Comparison of North American materials of the Oxytropis campestris complex with the Linnaean type and with other authentic specimens from Eurasia indicates a close relationship. The phases, as they occur in North America, are closely matched by their Eurasian counterparts. Such similarities are not easily discounted. An inclusive, rather than an exclusive, approach is indicated and is herein adopted.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Key

1. Corollas usually purple, rarely white; east of 90th meridian.	→ 2
2. Racemes (3–)5–9-flowered, axis 0.3–1.5 cm in fruit, peduncles curved-ascending, 3–15(–18) cm; calyx lobes deltate, 0.5–1.5(–2) mm.	var. minor
2. Racemes 7–12(–14)-flowered, axis 1.5–9(–11) cm in fruit, peduncles erect, (4–)8–36 cm; calyx lobes usually lanceolate, (1–)2–3 mm.	→ 3
3. Stipules glabrous or sparsely pilose abaxially; herbage silky-pilose becoming glabrate; legumes 14–27 mm; Maine, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec.	var. johannensis
3. Stipules pilose; herbage often loosely and copiously pilose; legumes 8–15 mm; Wisconsin.	var. chartacea
1. Corollas white, whitish, yellowish, purple, pink-purple, lavender, blue, bluish, pink, or polychrome; west of 90th meridian.	→ 4
4. Corollas mostly purple, lavender, blue, or pink-purple, sometimes polychrome.	→ 5
5. Plants 4–12(–16) cm; racemes 8–12(–14)-flowered, subcapitate or somewhat elongate; n Alaska, Northwest Territories, Yukon.	var. roaldii
5. Plants (9–)12–45 cm; racemes (5 or)6–15+-flowered, ± open or elongate; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Minnesota, North Dakota, Northwest Territories, Washington.	→ 6
6. Leaflets, at least some, fasciculate; corollas usually pink-purple or bluish, sometimes polychrome; sw Alberta, n British Columbia, Northwest Territories.	var. davisii
6. Leaflets scattered or subopposite; corollas purple, blue, pink, white, yellowish, or polychrome (in populations, rarely all one color); Manitoba, Minnesota, North Dakota, Washington.	→ 7
7. Leaflet blades ovate, linear-lanceolate, or narrowly oblong; Manitoba, Minnesota, North Dakota.	var. dispar
7. Leaflet blades linear to narrowly oblong; Grant County, Washington.	var. wanapum
4. Corollas usually white, whitish, yellowish, or polychrome, rarely purplish.	→ 8
8. Racemes usually 2–9-flowered; plants 5–12(–18) cm; n Alaska, British Columbia, Mackenzie Mountains, Northwest Territories, Yukon.	var. jordalii
8. Racemes (3–)8–30-flowered; plants (4–)12–55 cm; Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Colorado, Idaho, Manitoba, Montana, North Dakota, Northwest Territories, Oregon, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Yukon.	→ 9
9. Stipule margins ciliate, with clavate processes; Alaska, n British Columbia to ne Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Yukon.	var. varians
9. Stipule margins ciliate or eciliate, usually without clavate processes; Alberta, British Columbia, Colorado, Idaho, Manitoba, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.	→ 10
10. Leaflets (13–)17–33; elevations 1200–2300 m; Alberta, British Columbia, Colorado, Idaho, Manitoba, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming.	var. spicata
10. Leaflets 7–17(–19); elevations 300–3400 m; Alberta, British Columbia, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.	→ 11
11. Plants 4–15(–21) cm; corollas whitish or yellowish, keel not maculate; subalpine or alpine; Alberta, British Columbia, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.	var. cusickii
11. Plants (13–)19–30(–35) cm; corollas white, keel maculate; riparian; Flathead Lake, Montana, and Columbia River above Spokane, Washington.	var. columbiana